Joanne Podell, executive vice chairman for retail services at Cushman & Wakefield

Amy Rose, president and CEO at Rose Associates

Proceeds from the gala will provide scholarships to young women entering or in CRE fields. The fundraiser will also support career and community outreach, CREW Network Foundation's philanthropy, and other nonprofits serving women and girls.

Jaimee Nardiello, the president of CREW New York, who is a partner at the law firm Zetlin & DeChiara, says the chapter, now 260 members strong, organizes anniversary celebrations only every five years. The gala is their biggest event and planning began last year.

Nardiello adds that she is particularly proud of the chapter's foundation committee. It has donated close to $300,000 in scholarships with the first one awarded in 1991. She also says CREW New York's "programming continues to be one of the best in the industry." This includes educational events, such as the green buildings presentation, networking, and tours of the Oculus or AIA New York boat tour.

She emphasizes CREW's fundamental values are to foster a supportive network which involves members referring business to one another.

Kenne Shepherd, the principal at Kenne Shepherd Interior Design Architecture, co-chaired the planning of the gala with Michele O'Connor, a principal at Langan Engineering & Environmental Services. Like Nardiello, Shepherd emphasizes that "the core mission statement of CREW is to build a powerful network of professionals dedicated to the advancement of women in commercial real estate." This collegiality is an essential part of why the group was created and thrives. That's a fundamental difference that distinguishes CREW from many other professional associations.

Shepherd explains the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW) which was founded in 1978 and the New York Commercial Real Estate Women's Network (NYCREW) which began in 2001 joined together at the end of 2014—forming CREW New York.

A member of AREW, Shepherd was part of process of the two organizations combining. "They had very similar cultures, very similar missions and objectives in terms of supporting women, and creating opportunities for women," Shepherd says. She comments that the formation of CREW New York resulted in an even more dynamic and stronger organization—a reason for commercial real estate professionals to celebrate.

The 40th anniversary gala will be on Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Edison Ballroom, located at 240 W. 47th St., in New York City. A cocktail reception begins at 6:30, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7:30. Individual tickets are $650 for CREW members and $750 for non-members.